Kulgam: At least four security personnel and a traffic police officer were injured on Saturday during an exchange of firing with militants in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, a news agency said quoting police sources. The clash happened in the Adigam village of the Devsar area when security forces started a cordon-and-search operation after receiving information about terrorists.

As per the officials, ACP Mumtaz Ali posted as additional superintendent of police (traffic) was also wounded by a bullet fired randomly at the time of the firing near the spot of the operation. The four security personnel were also injured in the course of performing their activities in the anti-terrorism campaign.

The Kashmir operation was brought on social media platform X by the Kashmir Zone Police, where they shared, “Encounter has begun at Adigam Devsar area of #Kulgam. Security forces include police are in the action. More information will be provided later on.” This increases the tension and attacks the region and has come after another attack that was witnessed in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district on September 22.

This special meeting takes place only a few days before the third phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir that are taking place after a decade. Phase one was conducted on September 18 then phase two on September 25 in the six districts including Ganderbal, budgam Srinagar and Rajouri, Reasi, Poonch regions of the Jammu division.

Voting in the last phase is planned for October 1 while the vote counting will take place on October 8. These elections are especially crucial since they are being held after the Centre’s abrogation of Article 370 while stripping the region of its special status. But the fresh electoral exercise symbolises a pivotal positive progress on the road to democratic order in the Union Territory in the continuing insecurity conditions.

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